IN AFRICAN FOREST AND JUNGLE 



forest by himself, and set traps for game, coming back 

 with a porcupine and a pangoHn or ant-eater. So 

 plenty was in the camp once more for the moment. 

 The porcupine meat is very good, the pangolin's was 

 very strong. 



But when these were eaten, no more game was 

 trapped, and we again boiled some of the antelope 

 skin. 



I had such a "gouamba " — that is, such a longing 

 for meat — ^that the nuts and the boiled antelope skin 

 became loathsome to me. I ate them just as a 

 man would eat, day after day, bread soaked in water. 

 What a fearful meaning there is, I said to myself, 

 "in that native word 'gouamba' ! " I spent hours in 

 a sort of waking dream in which I fancied that I had 

 returned home, and had met many friends, one after 

 another, as I walked about the streets. The first one 

 would say: " Hello, is that you, Paul ? Welcome home. 

 Won't you dine with me to-day ? My wife and 

 children will be so glad to see you back again. We 

 have roast beef to-night." 



Then, in a moment, I found myself at the family 

 table. A big, juicy piece of roast beef was before my 

 eyes on the table. I saw my friend cut the roast beef. 

 A big piece was served to me. I was then asked if I 

 would have sweet potatoes, corn, and other vegetables. 



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